Can't tell players in mining battle without a scorecard; Who has Big Mo?

Scott Fitzgerald blinked, or caved, or whatever you want to call it.

But he has backed off and appointed the three Democrats nominated by Minority Leader Mark Miller to a special State Senate committee on mining.

Fitzgerald had rejected Miller's choices of Tim Carpenter and Jon Erpenbach, but now has named both to the committee, along with Bob Jauch.

Fitzgerald had tried to break long-standing Senate tradition of allowing each party to name its own members, hoping to get a committee that is more pro-mining. But with Republicans holding a 4-3 majority on the committee, it's a pretty safe bet the mining companies will get most if not all of what they want. Here's the announcement.

This group says it won't lobby, funnel political donations, or run pro-mining advertising. But there is no need to, since one of its members, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, is already spending a small fortune doing those very things.

And Jim Rowen warns that there are powerful interests against the mine, too.